Sonic Boom Or Something Else? Bengaluru Residents Hear Loud Noise Again

Residents in some parts of the city, especially those living in south and east Bengaluru, were startled by a loud "explosion-like" sound around 3.35 pm on Thursday. Many took to social media to report the unexplained sound and shockwave that rattled windows and even triggered a car theft alarm. The event, which has sparked widespread speculation, was reported across various neighborhoods, including Hosur, Sarjapur, Begur, Anekal, Brookefield, Electronic City, Banaswadi, and Whitefield.

A Reddit post titled "What was that shockwave in Koramangala just now?" quickly gained traction as users shared their experiences and theories.

What was that shockwave in Koramangala just now
byu/badhiyahai inbangalore

One user speculated that the shockwave was caused by a low-flying SU-30 MKI aircraft breaking the sound barrier. "I was there. It was a SU-30 MKI, not a Tejas. The speed was enough to break the sound barrier, which is why we felt the shockwave from its low flying. You can experience it again at the Bangalore Airshow in February 2025," the user wrote.

However, this claim was met with skepticism. Another user replied, "I've attended the Aero India air show every year and not once have I seen any of the aircraft go supersonic."

Adding to the mix of theories, some users suggested that the shockwave felt across other parts of Bengaluru might have been a sonic boom. "It was in other parts of BLR too. Seemed like a sonic boom," one user noted.

Amid the serious discussion, the top comment provided a humorous twist, with a user joking, "Sorry. Heavy lunch."

Speaking to OneIndia, Medini, an IT employee, recounted her experience. "I was drying my clothes when I heard the loud thunder. I thought it would probably rain, but the clouds were all clear.

What is a Sonic Boom?

A sonic boom occurs whenever an object travels through the air faster than the speed of sound in air, and a person as far as 65-80 km away from the epicentre can hear and experience the sonic boom. This thunderous sound is produced by the rapid movement of aircraft that exceed this speed, creating shock waves in the atmosphere. These shock waves generate an enormous amount of sound energy, resembling an explosion or thunderclap to the human ear.

As of now, the exact cause of the shockwave remains unknown, leaving residents and netizens intrigued and curious about the mysterious event.

This is not the first time such an incident has been reported. In July 2021, a mysterious noise like that of an explosion rattled southern parts of the Bengaluru urban district, parts of Ramanagara district and Hosur in neighbouring Tamil Nadu sending people into a tizzy.

In May 2020, a similar sonic boom was heard in parts of the city. The IAF later clarified that it had been caused by a test flight sortie.